answersLogoWhite

0

The time it takes for a Cepheid star to go from it's brightest, to it's dimmest, and back to it's brightest again. =] Hope that helped.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Astronomy

What is cepheid phase?

The Cepheid phase is a stage in the life cycle of a star where the star pulsates in a predictable manner, changing in brightness over a fixed period of time. This pulsation is used by astronomers to accurately measure the distance to Cepheid variable stars and other celestial objects.


What is a Cepheid Variable?

A Cepheid is a member of a particular class of variable stars. The relationship between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and pulsation period is quite precise, securing classical Cepheids as viable standard candles and the foundation of the Extragalactic Distance Scale. See related link for more information


How are cepheid variables used in determining distance?

Cepheid variables are a type of pulsating star whose brightness varies in a regular pattern. The key relationship used in distance measurement is the period-luminosity relation, which states that the longer the pulsation period of a Cepheid, the more luminous it is. By measuring the period of a Cepheid's brightness fluctuations, astronomers can determine its absolute brightness and compare it to its observed brightness to calculate the distance using the inverse square law of light. This method allows for accurate distance measurements to nearby galaxies and helps establish the scale of the universe.


How are Cepheid variables related to the instability strip?

Cepheid variables are high-mass, pulsating variables exhibiting a regular relationship between the period of pulsation and luminosity. When a star's evolutionary track carries it through a region called the instability strip in the HR diagram, the star becomes unstable and begins to pulsate. These stars are important to astronomers who study galaxies because Cepheids can be seen at extragalactic distances, and their period or pulsation tells us their luminosities, which in turn tells us their distances. - Cincinnati


What was the scientist Henrietta leavitt famous for?

Henrietta Leavitt was famous for her discovery of the relationship between the luminosity and the period of Cepheid variable stars. This discovery allowed astronomers to measure the distance to faraway galaxies and greatly contributed to our understanding of the universe's size and structure.

Related Questions

What is cepheid phase?

The Cepheid phase is a stage in the life cycle of a star where the star pulsates in a predictable manner, changing in brightness over a fixed period of time. This pulsation is used by astronomers to accurately measure the distance to Cepheid variable stars and other celestial objects.


How are Cepheid variable stars used in measuring distances in astronomy?

Cepheid variable stars are used in astronomy to measure distances by observing their pulsation periods. The longer the period of pulsation, the brighter the star, allowing astronomers to calculate the star's true brightness and therefore its distance from Earth. This method, known as the period-luminosity relationship, helps determine distances to faraway galaxies and other celestial objects.


What does Cepheid mean?

A Cepheid is a member of a class of pulsating variable stars. The relationship between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and pulsation period is quite precise, securing Cepheids as viable standard candles and the foundation of the Extragalactic Distance Scale.


How is the brightness of a Cepheid star calculated by knowing the period?

The brightness of a Cepheid star is determined by its period-luminosity relationship, which is a relationship between the star's variability period and its intrinsic luminosity. By measuring the period of a Cepheid star, astronomers can use the period-luminosity relationship to calculate its luminosity, and from there determine its apparent brightness as observed from Earth.


What is a Cepheid Variable?

A Cepheid is a member of a particular class of variable stars. The relationship between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and pulsation period is quite precise, securing classical Cepheids as viable standard candles and the foundation of the Extragalactic Distance Scale. See related link for more information


What fundamental principle did Shapely use to calibrate the period-luminosity relationship for Cepheid variable stars?

Shapley used the principle that the pulsation period of a Cepheid variable star is directly linked to its intrinsic luminosity. By observing Cepheids in nearby galaxies with known distances, he was able to establish a relationship between the period of pulsation and the luminosity of the star, known as the period-luminosity relationship. This key principle provided a way to accurately measure distances to galaxies and paved the way for understanding the scale of the universe.


How are cepheid variables utilized in the process of determining distances in astronomy?

Cepheid variables are used in astronomy to measure distances to faraway objects. By observing the pulsation period of these stars, astronomers can calculate their intrinsic brightness. By comparing this to their apparent brightness, they can determine how far away the star is, helping to map the vast distances of the universe.


How are cepheid variables used in determining distance?

Cepheid variables are a type of pulsating star whose brightness varies in a regular pattern. The key relationship used in distance measurement is the period-luminosity relation, which states that the longer the pulsation period of a Cepheid, the more luminous it is. By measuring the period of a Cepheid's brightness fluctuations, astronomers can determine its absolute brightness and compare it to its observed brightness to calculate the distance using the inverse square law of light. This method allows for accurate distance measurements to nearby galaxies and helps establish the scale of the universe.


How can cepheids be utilized to calculate distance accurately?

Cepheids are bright, pulsating stars that have a predictable relationship between their brightness and their pulsation period. By measuring the period of a cepheid's pulsation and comparing it to its observed brightness, astronomers can accurately determine the star's intrinsic brightness. This information can then be used to calculate the star's distance from Earth, as the apparent brightness of a star decreases with distance. This method, known as the period-luminosity relationship, allows astronomers to calculate distances to faraway galaxies and other celestial objects with high accuracy.


How are Cepheid variables related to the instability strip?

Cepheid variables are high-mass, pulsating variables exhibiting a regular relationship between the period of pulsation and luminosity. When a star's evolutionary track carries it through a region called the instability strip in the HR diagram, the star becomes unstable and begins to pulsate. These stars are important to astronomers who study galaxies because Cepheids can be seen at extragalactic distances, and their period or pulsation tells us their luminosities, which in turn tells us their distances. - Cincinnati


Which variable stars have pulsation periods between 1.5 hours and 1.2 days?

RR Lyrae stars. (Sometimes these stars are classed as a type of "Cepheid variable", but they are usually considered as a separate star type.)


Edwin Hubble demonstrated that distant galaxies existed by measuring which type of stars?

Edwin Hubble used Cepheid variable stars to measure the distances to galaxies. These stars have a relationship between their luminosity and pulsation period, allowing astronomers to calculate their distance based on their observed brightness.